The definitive GAA sports series returns to TG4 this spring for a 21st series. The series hour-long format has proved a huge success, bringing each player’s personal stories to screen.
The series features eight Laochra with genuine star quality and reveals deeper, fresh and sometimes unexpected insights into the lives of these icons. While their sporting careers continue to provide the backdrop to the story, the series travels well beyond the four white lines.
Gripping personal storylines will compel viewers to travel towards territory unique to the GAA television landscape.
Áine Wall
Laochra Gael continues with the story of Waterford footballer, Aine Wall. She came to the fore with her club, Ballymacarbry, but it was with the county that she became a star.
With Áine spearheading the attack, Waterford won 5 All Irelands in the 90s, bringing unprecedented success to the Déise faithful. On top of that, as a result of the heroics of Áine and her friends, the sport , which had never even been broadcast when she started out, gained attention and respect.
One of the greatest ever footballers, who revolutionised Ladies Football.
Other stars to get the full Laochra Gael treatment include Joe Canning, Aidan O’Mahony, Anne Dalton, Tom Parsons, Liam Sheedy, Anthony Molloy, Noel O’Leary.
Ahead of the new Series Uachtarán CLG, Larry McCarthy said: “Excellence in Gaelic games coverage has been a hallmark of TG4 and the Laochra Gael series has been another manifestation of this.
Over many years the series has built a strong following through their diverse and compelling stories of players who have helped grow the popularity of our games. I look forward to the latest series and the profiling of more influential figures from across Gaelic games.”
TG4's Director General, Alan Esslemont said “Irish audiences love to watch live sport, especially Gaelic games, and we understandably see GAA, LGFA and Camogie players as the superb athletes they are on the pitch, skilled, talented and brilliant sportswomen and sportsmen. But all of these athletes also have human lives which are connected with yet independent from their sport.
The strength of the ‘Laochra Gael’ series is the storytelling of these human lives, their highs and their lows, powerful, moving, heart-warming, heart-breaking and always compelling.
I am deeply grateful to the broad family of Gaelic games players for allowing the wonderful team at Nemeton TV into their lives and for allowing TG4 to bring their stories to a fascinated and absorbed Irish viewing public. Bainigí sult as an tsraith nua!”
The series is produced by NemetonTV, the independent production company from An Rinn in the Waterford Gaeltacht which has produced much of TG4’s acclaimed sports coverage.
The new Laochra Gael season will air on TG4 at 9:30 pm on Thursday evenings starting January 26th.
